November 2014
The Transforming Research Management Project aims to revolutionise Research Management support by developing a new University wide service fit to operate within a dynamic and challenging funding environment whilst delivering dedicated PI support and efficient financial administration.
The project will deliver more consistent and streamlined procedures and introduce Research Management Support Teams across Campus, built around common roles. The project will bring many benefits for the University and its staff both within Research and the support structure. However it is also clear that in introducing the new ways of working a number of existing roles will inevitably change.
The project team is proposing to introduce the new ways of working including the new IT system and supporting organisational design on a phased basis. This has been discussed with College Management Groups as well as other stakeholders. There also continues to be close engagement with the PI steering group which has influenced the design of our new processes and in turn the supporting IT system development to ensure that both deliver the desired improvements.
These will include an improved workflow to support application approvals and a smooth transition from pre- to post- award, removing unnecessarily duplicated approvals to ensure recruitment is initiated more quickly and improved reporting and tracking of finances during the life cycle of a project. This should release PIs from unnecessary administration tasks and reduce the levels of funding the University currently fails to utilise. Over time the improved information and support should also increase the University’s capacity to secure funding and support our goals as set out in the Strategy.
The phased implementation is proposed to commence in May 2015 when the system will be completed and there will be some recruitment into the new teams.
An update on this strategic project will be presented to Court at its December meeting and further staff updates are being planned for January following which the actions required to initiate Phase 1 of the implementation will commence.
In the interim, if you have any general questions these can be sent to transforming-research-management@glasgow.ac.uk